MIGRAINE 
                                      
 Health Care  & Disease Control

Most migraines are without aura. However, Migraine aura without headache is also quite common, and should be seen by an ophthalmologist to rule out more serious patholgy i.e. retinal detachment.  Migraine without aura is about twice as common as migraine with aura.

Migraine is diagnosed by determining whether some of a person's recurrent headaches meet certain criteria.

HISTORY
Headache lasting approximately 4-72 hours. The pain is unilaterall with pulsating, and sometimes includes nausea and/or vomiting . Of  moderate or severe intensity, which interferes with or prohibits normal daily activities.  The symptoms are aggravated by walking up or down stairs or other routine physical activity.
Usually including:photophobia
 

TRIGGERS

Caffeine,Tyramine, Tyrosine. Excessive release of Arachidonic Acid is a common trigger and is reversed by dietary adequacy of omega-6 & omega-3 fatty-acids. The ratio should be 2:1 Copper is also a trigger as is Serotonin, Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine. Caffeine is a very common trigger and other triggers include but are not confined to : Dairy products especially cheese, chocolate, onions, aspartame, citrus fruits, any processed foods and food derivites. Giving credence tat least in part to the ABO Blood Type, commonly met and excessively consumed avoidance foods must be considered. In the female, menstruation may be a trigger.

One thing is certain migraine attacks where pain is a symptom are the result of inflammation at the level of the PGE2  hormones. Migraine sufferers generally have a high Helper T-Cells: Suppressor T-Cells ratio.

TREATMENT
As with all chronic conditions, especially where allergy may be a causative factor, "Leaky Gut" must be considered. The herb Gingo Biloba is baseline therapy. Ginkgo Biloba has been shown in clinical trials to improve or cure  migraine headaches in 80% of persons. Gingko certainly relieves and prevents the ocular migraine, which is without pain and manifests as a saw-tooth flashing or brilliant shape usually in the peripheral vision. Other treatment includes more problem specific supplements including anti-inflammatories of which ProResolvin is First line Therapy, neuromuscular support, marine lipids, Phenolic Desensitization and food nosodes.

References:
· Titus, F., et al. 5-Hydroxytryptophan versus methysergide in the prophylaxis of migraine. Randomized clinical trial. European Neurology. 25:327-329, 1986.
· De Benedittis, G., et al. 5-HT precursors in migraine prophylaxis: A double-blind cross-over study with L-5-hydroxytryptophan versus placebo. Clinical Journal of Pain. 3:123-129, 1986.
· Koehler, S. M., et al. The effect of aspartame on migraine headache. Headache. 28:10-14, 1988.
· Herzog, A. G. Continuous bromocriptine therapy in menstrual migraine. Neurology. 48(1):101-102, 1997.
· Harrison, D. P. Copper as a factor in the dietary precipitation of migraine. Headache. 26(5):248-250, 1986.
· Gallai, V., et al. Magnesium content of mononuclear blood cells in migraine patients. Headache. 34:160-165, 1994.
· Mauskop, A. Intravenous magnesium sulfate relieves migraine attacks in patients with low serum ionized magnesium levels: A pilot study. Clinical Science. 89: 633-636, 1995.
· Peikert, A., et al. Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: Results from a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized study. Cephalalgia. 16:257-63, 1996.
· Ramadan, N. M., et al. Low brain magnesium in migraine. Headache. 29:590-593, 1989.
· Swanson, D. R. Migraine and magnesium: Eleven neglected connections. Perspect Biol Med. 31:526-557, 1988.
· Claustrat, B., et al. Nocturnal plasma melatonin profile and melatonin kinetics during infusion in status migrainosus. Cephalagia. 17(4):511-517, 1997.
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) and Migraine
· Gatto, G., et al. Analgesizing effect of a methyl donor (S-Adenosylmethionine) in migraine: An open clinical trial. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 6:15-17, 1986.
· Cazzola, P., et al. In vivo modulating effect of a calf thymus acid lysate on human T lymphocyte subsets and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the course of different diseases. Curr Ther Res. 42:1011-1017, 1987.
· Gaby, A., et al. Nutrition Update. AANP 10th Annual Convention, Snowmass, Colo., Oct. 11-15, 1995.
· Schoenen, J., et al. Effectiveness of high-dose riboflavin in migraine prophylaxis. A randomized controlled trial. Neurology. 50:466-470, 1998.